Heart of the Law Pt. 3

Welcome back

Hope everyone is ready for Thanksgiving

Today we are finishing up the section up the section on the heart of the law

8 weeks and we got through chapter 5

Remember - the Law shows us our need for Grace and our inability to live as God intended

Remember the standard

Matthew 5:20 ESV

20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

It is more than a mindless obedience - it is heart behind the obedience

The motivation behind our choices and actions

What happens when there is strong emotion behind our choices?

Choices will continually be necessary and -- let us not forget -- possible. Obedience to God is always possible. It is a deadly error to fall into the notion that when feelings are extremely strong we can do nothing but act on them. - Elisabeth Elliot

The strongest emotions are Love and hate

Love draws us to something or someone, while hurt and hate isolates us

Today we look at the people who hurt and anger us how we respond.

Let’s pray

Getting Even

Matthew 5:38–42 ESV

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

The original intent was for legal purposes - the punishment not to exceed the crime

Be wiling to suffer loss, rather than cause suffering

Examples - insult - slap of cheek - our pride

give more than required - our stuff

Go the extra mile - Roman soldiers could force 1 mile - our comfort

Give to the need - our convenience

Philippians 2:3 ESV

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

This does not mean to walked on or abused

Does mean how we react should reflect the Grace in our own lives

Any questions or thoughts?

Take it a step further

Tough Love

Matthew 5:43–48 ESV

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Love is central to Jesus’ teaching

At least 15 times we are commanded to love one another in the NT

The question is who is the “another”

Love the hard to love

Love your neighbor was always there - hate your enemy was not

We are called to not retaliate - and respond with love

The Father is our ultimate example - He gives natural blessings to all

Even non-believers love

Leadership is simple , not easy

Our faith is simple, not easy

Love is what sets us apart

More people have been brought into the church by the kindness of real Christian love than by all the theological arguments in the world. - William Barclay

Matthew 5:48 ESV

48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Perfect = complete

We show our maturity of faith by the way and by who we love

Heart of the Law Pt. 3

The Law shows our need for Grace and the motivation of our actions

On our own - impossible to keep

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Now we know the heart, next week we begin to look at how it is fleshed out

Read Matthew 6 next week

Lets pray